The study of inter-organizational collaboration by cluster supply chain

This paper introduces the concept of cluster supply chain. Cluster supply chain is a set of networks comprised of horizontal ties between firms within a particular industrial cluster, which are sequentially arranged based on vertical ties between firms in different layers. Cluster supply chain analysis integrates supply chain and network perspectives on inter-organizational collaboration with particular emphasis on the value creating and coordination mechanism. We posit that sources of value and coordination mechanisms correspond to distinct types of collaborations: vertical, pooled horizontal and reciprocal horizontal. It is further argued that there may be many challenges in the construction of cluster supply chain.